Episode Summary

The arrival of a provincial technical team confirms that the key signature evidence against Zhang Wenjing was forged, creating a major rift between a furious Li Renjun and a defiant Xie Hongfei. Simultaneously, internal conflict erupts in the criminal underworld as Wang Yu holds Wan Chao hostage to extort a logistics center from Chen Shenglong, forcing Wan Chao's father, Wanhai, into a false confession. The task force investigators, Hong Liang and Zheng Yaping, apply pressure on two fronts. Zheng Yaping gets Cheng Zijian to slip up about a crucial phone call where Xie Hongfei ordered him to dispose of Qiao Zhenxing's body. As key witnesses are coerced into silence, the investigation zeroes in on Xie, who, after a surprise inquiry into his finances, panics and attempts to flee, only to be tailed by the task force.

Spoiler Alert

In the Name of Justice Episode 13 Recap: The Walls Close In

The arrival of a provincial task force in Dongping spells disaster for Xie Hongfei, as his carefully constructed web of deceit begins to tear. With a key piece of evidence exposed as a forgery, the pressure mounts, forcing alliances to crumble and setting off a frantic chain of events that pushes everyone to their breaking point.

A Forgery Unravels an Alliance

The episode kicks off with a major breakthrough for the task force. Sun Xiangqun's technical team from the provincial capital arrives and quickly confirms what the investigators suspected: the signatures implicating Zhang Wenjing were forged. This revelation hits Li Renjun hard, who furiously confronts Xie Hongfei for misleading him and causing a critical error in the investigation. Xie, however, remains defiant and refuses to admit any wrongdoing.

Meanwhile, the criminal underworld faces its own crisis. When Chen Shenglong learns that his associate Wan Chao has been taken captive by the ruthless Wang Yu, he sends Cheng Zijian to negotiate his release. But Wang Yu sees an opportunity and makes a bold demand: he will only free Wan Chao if Chen Shenglong signs over the highly coveted logistics center.

A Father's Impossible Choice

Unable to sway Wang Yu, Cheng Zijian changes tactics and visits Wanhai in detention. He presents Wanhai with horrifying photos of his son, Wan Chao, bruised and battered from torture. Heartbroken and desperate, Wanhai is cornered. Cheng Zijian presses his advantage, and Wanhai is forced to agree to falsely confess to the task force that he is, and always will be, a gangster, all to save his son. Despite this, when Cheng returns to Wang Yu, the gangster's position is unchanged—no logistics center, no release for Wan Chao.

The Task Force's Two-Pronged Attack

Operating from their new base at the Dongping City Prosecutor's Office, Hong Liang and Zheng Yaping split up to apply maximum pressure. Zheng Yaping targets Cheng Zijian, questioning him about his relationship with Xie Hongfei. Cheng initially keeps his composure, but when Zheng casually brings up a phone call he received from Xie on the morning of Qiao Zhenxing's farewell ceremony, he panics. He slips up, revealing the call's true purpose: Xie had ordered him to find someone to "take care of" Qiao Zhenxing's body to prevent the task force from getting to it.

At the same time, Hong Liang directly confronts Xie Hongfei about the forged signatures, recording the entire conversation. Xie attempts to shift the blame, claiming it was a "technical error" by the head of the forensics center and even trying to frame Wanhai for setting up Zhang Wenjing. But when Hong Liang also brings up the phone call to Cheng, Xie loses his composure entirely.

A Desperate Cover-Up and a Race Against Time

Sensing Xie's panic, Hong Liang switches to a psychological game. He feigns trust in Xie, suggesting that he only distrusts Cheng Zijian. This momentarily calms Xie. After regaining his own composure, Cheng lies to Zheng Yaping, claiming Xie's call was simply to congratulate him on his recent marriage.

Hong Liang continues to probe Xie, who denies telling Cheng about a potential second autopsy for Qiao Zhenxing. The moment he leaves the interrogation, a rattled Xie immediately tries to call Cheng to align their stories, but Cheng, likely spooked, doesn't answer.

The situation grows more dire as key witnesses begin to fold under pressure. When Zheng Yaping presents Zhang Wenjing with the evidence of the forged signatures, Zhang, fearing for her family's safety, refuses to cooperate and says she is willing to plead guilty. Wanhai follows suit, sticking to his coerced confession. Zheng Yaping correctly deduces that both are being threatened. With their primary leads compromised, the entire case now hinges on one last witness: Shao Xiaoyan. Realizing she could be the next target, Zheng Yaping rushes off to find her before it's too late.

Flight of the Guilty

In a final, bold move, Hong Liang makes a surprise visit to Xie Hongfei's home. While surrounded by Xie's awards and certificates, he questions Xie's wife about their family's finances. She becomes instantly defensive, insists on her husband's integrity, and throws them out. She immediately calls her husband to warn him.

The news that the task force is investigating his personal finances is the final straw for Xie Hongfei. Panicked, he jumps on his motorcycle and flees towards his old hometown. He is unaware, however, that Bai Ziyan has been staking out his location and is now tailing him, feeding his movements back to Hong Liang in real-time. With Xie's escape route known, Hong Liang and his team change course to intercept him, setting the stage for a final confrontation.

Spoilers & Key Developments:

  • Forgery Confirmed: The provincial technical team proves that the signatures used to frame Zhang Wenjing are fake, causing a major rift between Li Renjun and Xie Hongfei.
  • Gangland Standoff: Wang Yu kidnaps Wan Chao and uses him as leverage to demand Chen Shenglong's valuable logistics center, forcing Wanhai to make a false confession to save his son.
  • The Phone Call Slip-Up: Cheng Zijian accidentally reveals to Zheng Yaping that Xie Hongfei called him to dispose of Qiao Zhenxing's body.
  • Witnesses Under Duress: Both Zhang Wenjing and Wanhai deliver false confessions after being threatened, forcing Zheng Yaping to race to find the last uncompromised witness, Shao Xiaoyan.
  • The Net Tightens: After a surprise visit to his home by investigators, a panicked Xie Hongfei attempts to flee but is secretly followed by the task force, who are now closing in on him.